Urban Leisure: Returning to University as a Model Student

Chapter 7 Enemies Meet

The weekend was fast approaching. Although Chen Jiahua had reassured his family that he’d secured the right connections to handle his re-enrollment, he decided to visit the university himself to test the waters.

Jiajing University was one of the top universities in China, ranking just below Shuimu University and Jing Shi University.

In recent years, the rapid economic development of the Yangtze River Delta region had given Jiajing University a strategic advantage in international exchanges and collaborations. With significant support from the Jiajing

City government and central financial resources, it had become a premier hub of higher education in Asia.

The university comprised three campuses, all within a short distance of one another, no more than two or three bus stops apart. Each campus had easy access to subway stations. However, the Chijing campus—the main campus—was quite far from Chen Jiahua’s home, requiring a long bus ride followed by a subway transfer.

The main entrance to Jiajing University featured a grand, traditional Chinese-style paifang, with a plaque bearing the words “Jiajing University” in bold characters. Legend had it that the university’s founding president had written to the country’s Chairman requesting his calligraphy for the plaque, which was later engraved.

The gate itself was adorned with glazed tiles, flying eaves, and beast-shaped ornaments on each corner. The structure exuded an air of classical elegance and profound cultural significance.

However, Chen Jiahua’s attire was far from culturally significant. Wearing a white shirt emblazoned with the words “Jiaboli Paints—Eco-friendly and Dual Certification” and loose five-inch shorts, he rode up on a motorcycle and was promptly stopped by the university security guard at the gate.

“Sorry, sir, but campus visitation hours aren’t open yet. You can come back between the 15th and 18th of this month,” the guard explained.

Having worked the gates of one of China’s most prestigious universities for years, the guard had seen all sorts: creepy men stalking female students, opportunistic vendors trying to leech off the university’s fame, and even parents barging in with their children, oblivious to rules. Nothing surprised him anymore.

To the guard, Chen Jiahua, with his paint company shirt and casual demeanor, was just another visitor.

Chen Jiahua gave the guard a knowing smile and discreetly slipped him a pack of “Da Zhai Men” cigarettes.

“Uncle, I’m not a tourist. I’m one of the students here. Let me in. Look, even that guy over there—a foreigner—got in.”

The guard blinked, momentarily startled by the blatant bribe attempt. He pushed the cigarettes back firmly and replied, “Sorry, young man, I can’t let you in. That guy is an international student at our school. Of course, he’s allowed.”

Sighing, Chen Jiahua scratched his head and reluctantly pulled out a battered student ID card from his pocket.

He’d kept the card tucked away in an old jacket for years, but after his mother had unknowingly thrown the jacket into the wash, the card now bore watermarks and smudged ink.

The guard took the card and examined it. Though the text was blurred and the photo slightly faded, it was still decipherable. He chuckled. “This picture—is this really you?”

“Yeah, it’s me,” Chen Jiahua replied.

“Doesn’t look like you at all,” the guard said skeptically.

“Well, I was a bit thinner back then.”

“Still, this card shows you enrolled five or six years ago. You’d have graduated by now.”

“What can I say? Can’t I come back and visit my alma mater?” Chen Jiahua quipped. “I don’t think the university bans alumni from entering, right?”

“Well, no,” the guard admitted. “But you’ll need to sign the visitor log, leave your phone number, and answer a few questions.”

“I’ll sign the log, but skip the interrogation,” Chen Jiahua countered. “I’m here to meet the vice-principal.”

Hearing that, the guard decided not to press further. After Chen Jiahua signed the log and left his number, he waved him through.

July had left the campus mostly empty due to summer vacation. The occasional person could be seen walking along the pathways, but the university was eerily quiet. It didn’t take long for Chen Jiahua to navigate the familiar grounds and reach the administrative building.

Despite claiming he was there to see the vice-principal, Chen Jiahua’s first stop was the Academic Affairs Office to inquire about the formalities for re-enrollment.

As he stepped inside, he froze momentarily. A young and beautiful female teacher had just opened the door for him, and she looked oddly familiar.

“Hello, I’m here to—”

Before he could finish, the woman interrupted him. “Come in, please. I’m a counselor teaching here this year.”

Chen Jiahua stepped into the office, and as she closed the door, Li Ting found herself overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions: surprise, excitement, anger, curiosity, and confusion all rolled into one. Even she couldn’t quite explain her feelings.

Why is he back? Didn’t he already drop out? Could he be here to see me?

These thoughts and speculations swirled through her mind. Shaking her head, she listened intently as Chen Jiahua spoke to the Academic Affairs Director about processing his re-enrollment. He asked about the necessary documents, which departments he needed to visit, and the approval procedures.

Suddenly, something clicked in her memory: Director Zhou Shanxuan had been involved in Chen Jiahua’s withdrawal from the university.

Years ago, Zhou’s younger brother, Zhou Kangwei, a counselor in the same department, had deliberately blocked a female student from receiving a scholarship. By jeopardizing her chances at graduate school, he tried to coerce her into a compromising relationship.

When Chen Jiahua, known for his hot temper, found out, he stormed into Zhou Kangwei’s office and beat him so badly that he suffered brain trauma and fractured ribs.

The incident caused a massive scandal at Jiajing University. While Zhou Kangwei was expelled, Chen Jiahua was also forced to withdraw.

Unbeknownst to Li Ting, Chen Jiahua hadn’t officially dropped out but had instead filed for a leave of absence. However, even with a leave of absence, students were typically only allowed two years to re-enroll, and Chen Jiahua’s case was already three years old.

Worse still, there was Zhou Shanxuan.

An entrenched bureaucrat with decades of experience, Zhou rarely let his emotions show, preferring to maintain a calm and composed demeanor. But the sight of Chen Jiahua caused him to tremble ever so slightly.

This was the man who had meddled in his family’s affairs, turning his brother into an unemployed middle-aged man. His brother had spent half a year in the hospital and had been publicly prosecuted for attempted r*p*, ultimately serving a year in prison.

If not for Zhou Shanxuan’s efforts to secure a plea deal with the victim—offering her generous compensation and benefits—his brother might have faced an even harsher sentence.

Even after his release, Zhou Kangwei constantly complained about the hardships of prison life, blaming his brother for failing to “fix” the situation. The once-united family had fractured into bitter resentment.

If Chen Jiahua manages to re-enroll, I’ll eat my hat, Zhou thought, a sadistic thrill coursing through him. The prospect of blocking Chen Jiahua’s path filled him with a twisted sense of vengeance.